PARIS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Paris saw a record high temperature of 42.6C (108.7F) on Thursday, amid a heatwave that broke records across Western Europe.
A red alert was issued in north France. Germany also set a new national temperature record of 41.5C, passing the figure set just a day before.
The UK recorded a record temperature for July of 38.1C, with trains told to run more slowly to stop rails buckling.
The Netherlands also recorded its highest ever temperature at 40.7C.
“Climate change has increased the likelihood and severity of heatwave episodes across Europe,” the UK’s national weather service said.
French authorities launched a red alert – the highest state of alert – in the Paris region and 19 other districts and said temperatures were expected to reach 42C-43C in parts of the country.
Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute issued “code red” warnings across most of the country – urging people to take extra precautions during “extremely high temperatures”.
In France, officials warned people to avoid travelling to work from home if possible. Some nurseries have been closed.
French reports suggested five deaths may have resulted from the high temperatures.
Comparisons were drawn to a heatwave in August 2003 which contributed to almost 15,000 deaths in the country.
In parts of north Germany, rivers and lakes have dried up – with warnings that fish and mussels could be “severely threatened”.
In the Netherlands, hundreds of pigs died earlier this week after a ventilator at a farm failed.
On Wednesday, a Eurostar train from Belgium to London broke down, trapping passengers.
An intense heatwave swept through areas of Europe last month, making it the hottest June on record.
France set an all-time high-temperature record of 46C, according to the WMO, and new June highs were set in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Andorra, Luxembourg, Poland and Germany. — NNN-AGENCIES
